Impatiens plant named ‘TiLipII’

ABSTRACT

A new double-flowered Impatiens walleriana named &#39;TiLipII&#39;, producing light pink flowers; dark green foliage; strong peduncles and pedicels; flowers held above or beyond the foliage; freely branching; medium vigorous mounded growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species and variety denomination: Impatiens walleriana plant and known by the cultivar name ‘TiLipII’.

BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar botanically known as ‘Impatiens walleriana’ and by the cultivar name ‘TiLipII’, which is shown in the photograph accompanying this specification.

The cultivar was developed and selected in a controlled breeding program in a controlled environment in Broadbent, Oreg. by the inventors, Harlan Cosner and Sue Cosner, as described herein. The plants may be used in landscaping, window, and hanging baskets and flower gardens. The plants are generally classed as an annual bedding plant.

BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The closest known cultivar is ‘TiLip’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,855.

COMPARISON

The impatiens plant of the present invention differs from prior plants, namely ‘TiLip’ in at least the following ways:

1. ‘TiLipiII’ is more vigorous and produces a larger plant than ‘TiLip’.

2. The flower color of ‘TiLipII’ is 69B compared to ‘TiLip’ which is 62B to 62C.

3. See accompanying comparison chart.

These and other distinguishing characteristics will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

BACKGROUND—DISCOVERY and PARENTAGE

The present cultivar was developed by standard cross-pollination. The pollen producing parent was a double-flowered ‘Impatiens walleriana’ coded BR-A-269, and the seed producing parent was a semi-double-flowered impatiens coded BR-A-53. The seed parent's flower color was light pink, and the pollen parent's flower color was a blush white. Neither parent is patented.

The cross was made in the breeders' controlled breeding program at Broadbent, Oreg. The first asexual reproduction was also made at Broadbent, Oreg. Successive asexual generations produced from cuttings with two or more leaves have shown the cultivar to be stable.

The cultivar is unique either in one or a combination of the characteristics described herein. It is a new, complete double-flowered ‘Impatiens walleriana’ producing bright purple flowers; dark green foliage; compact growth habit; fully double flowers held above or beyond the foliage on strong peduncles and pedicels; and a compact mounded growth habit.

The cultvar is unique either in one or a combination of the characteristics described herein. It is a new, complete double-flowered ‘Impatiens walleriana’; producing light pink flowers; dark green foliage; strong peduncles and pedicels; flowers held above or beyond the foliage; freely branching; medium vigorous mounded growth habit.

Color references are according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description relates to the following environmental and cultural practices at Rogue River, Oreg., on or about Mar. 1, 2003. The photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the TiLipII cultivar described herein. The plant shown is about 10 weeks of age from rooted cuttings, at first inflorescence. There may be variations between the colors in the photograph and the colors in the following description due to light reflectance, or the amount of blue or red light captured in the film. If such variations occur, the written description shall control.

The plant of the present invention has not been observed in all possible environmental and/or cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light level, humidity and also with cultural practices such as fertility, soil, and water quality.

Container.—6-inch Azalea containers.

Medium—soil less medium.

Greenhouse covering—Double layer Polyethylene with 50% shade cloth on top.

Minimum temperature—70° F.

Maximum temperature—75° F.

Light levels—1000 to 1500 ft candles..

Fertilizer—20-10-20 with trace elements applied twice followed by one leaching with clear water.

Cutting type—Lateral stems with leaves.

Propagation:

Type of cutting.—Lateral stems with two or more leaves were used for asexual reproduction.

Time to initiate roots.—Generally about 7 to 10 days at soil temperature of 72° F.

Appearance and form of mature plant:

Plant form and habit.—Mounded and of medium vigor.

Plant size.—Plants mature at about 15 cm in height and about 30 cm in width. Both of these measurements are a function of age, environmental and cultural practices, and can vary accordingly.

Rooting description.—The roots are fibrous and well-branched.

Rooting ability.—Easy; no hormones needed.

Branching habit.—Plants are self-branching. Stems are strong and freely produced. The number of stems depends upon cultural practices, age of stems used as cuttings and the number of growth buds present on the cutting when stuck.

Stems.—Stems are produced freely, no pinching is needed to induce branching. Color is close to 146A with small dark reddish markings of a very hard to determine color but which appear close to 183A to 183B. At maturity stem: diameter measures about 4 mm at the internodes; internode generally about 0.5 cm or longer.

Foliage shape and size.—At least 3.5 cm. wide; about 1.5 cm. deep. The largest petals are generally comprised of two petals fused at the base, and each is generally at least 1.5 cm. wide and 1.5 cm. deep; obovate to exaggerated obovate in shape with cuneate to obtuse base, entire margin, and obtuse to retuse apex. The above measurements refer to the average flowers. The size of the flowers will generally be much larger during spring and summer.

Foliage color.—Adaxial surface is closest to, but does not match any color in the chart but is closest to 137A; Abaxial surface does not match any color in the chart, but is closest to 146B; adaxial surface venation is close to 146A; Abaxial surface venation, main vein does not match, but is closest to 146B, lateral veins are closest to 146A.

Foliage texture.—Smooth and flat.

Petioles.—Petioles are about 2.5 cm long, half round, flat to slightly convex on upper surface which is about 3.5 mm wide, depth of about 2.5 mm. Color on adaxial surface is close to 146D with very tiny reddish markings that appear close to 183B; Abaxial surface color is closest to 146C to 146D.

Natural flowering season.—Year around under greenhouse conditions, and the frost free period from spring through fall outdoors. Flowers are continuously produced throughout the flowering season.

Bud size, shape & color: The buds prior to opening are about 1 cm. in length; about 0.75 cm. in diameter ovate shape;. Colors prior to opening are top close to144B, and bottom close to 144D.

Time to flower.—Flowering begins at about 10 weeks from an unrooted cutting.

Duration of flower.—About four to seven days.

Flowers borne.—Above and/or beyond the foliage from the apex of the stems.

Flower count.—Usually at least 12 flowers per stem from visible buds to fully open flowers with normally at least 2 open per stem.

Flower texture.—Smooth and satiny.

Flower fragrance.—None detected.

Flower color.—Adaxial surface is close to 69B with a basal spot close to 67A. Abaxial surface close to 65D sometimes with a basal spot close to 67A.

Flower size and shape.—Generally, at least 3.5 cm wide; generally at least 1 cm deep. The above measurements refer to the larger flowers, and the flower size was taken during winter low light when the flowers are the smallest. During spring and summer, the flowers are generally much larger than the above measurements and as much as double the described size.

Petal size and shape.—Generally, at least 3.5 cm wide; generally at least 1 cm deep. The largest petals are generally at least 1.5 cm wide and at least 1.5 cm deep; obovate to exaggerated obovate in shape with obtuse to retuse apex, entire margin, and cuneate to obtuse base. The above measurements refer to the avarage flowers; and the flower size was taken during winter low light when the flowers are the smallest, during spring and summer, the flowers are generally much larger than the above measurements.

Petal count.—Generally about 25 or more.

Calyx.—The calyx generally consists of the spur and three sepals. A single large sepal is between the other two and (during summer, there may be only one sepal as described below as the large sepal); it measures about 1 cm wide, and 1.25 cm long; adaxial surface is close to 145D with a spot close to 67A where the spur attaches; the abaxial surface is 149D with a spot of close to 67A where the spur attaches. Each other sepal is about 2 mm wide and about 0.5 cm in length with adaxial surface color close to 144B and abaxial surface color close to 144B. Shape of each of the three sepals is ovate with truncate to cordate base, acuminate apex, and entire margin. The spur is attached in a peltate manner to the large center sepal described above is the spur that is generally at least 1.5 cm long, and 2 mm in diameter at sepal end and 1 mm in diameter at apex; shape is acicular tapering and curved tube. Color is 67A at base, close to 152D in center and close to 144D at apex.

Reproductive organs.—Reproductive Organs are not produced, and are replaced by sterile petaloids.

Disease Resistance.—The cultivar appears to have good resistance to botrytis.

Dampness resistance.—The peduncles and pedicels are strong and hold the flowers up well in wet weather.

Cold/heat resistance.—Plant flowers well in summer heat.

CHART 1 COLOR CODE TiLipII TiLip Flower diameter At least 3.5 cm About 5 cm Petal color-Abaxial Close to 65D sometimes 65C surface with base spot close to 67A Petal color-Adaxial 69B with base spot close to 62B to 62C with surface 67A darker veins close to 67B Sepal color-Abaxial 149D witn spot at spur 142C surface attachment close to 67A Largest in ‘TiLipII’ Sepal color-Adaxial 145D with spot close to 142D with spot surface 67A close to 66C Spur color Base close to 67A, 152D in Apex 177C, base center and 144A at apex 194B with markings of 178B Peduncle Color 146C 146B with tiny markings close to 178B Pedicel Color Close to 146C at base and 146C with tiny close to 144A at apex markings close to 178A Stem Color close to 146A with dark 146B with darker marks close to 183A to markings close to 183B 178A Bud Color top close to 144B, and Top 145A and bot- bottom close to 144D tom 145B Foliage color-Abaxial closest to 146B, main vein 146B, venation surface closest to 146B, lateral 146A veins are closest to 146A Foliage color-Adaxial closest to 137A, venation is 146A, venation surface close to 146A 146A Petiole color adaxial surface is close Top 146C with tiny to 146D with very tiny markings close to reddish markings that 178A, bottom 146D appear close to 183B; Abaxial surface color is closest 146C to 146D. Foliage size largest is about 4 cm long; Largest about 5 cm about 3 cm wide long, 4.5 cm wide Largest petal size generally at least 1.5 cm. 1.8 cm wide and 2.3 wide and 1.5 cm deep; cm long Peduncle size Length about 2.75 cm, Length about 2 cm, diameter about 2.5 mm diameter about 2 mm Pedicel size Length about 2.5 cm, Length about 1.8 diameter about 1.5 mm cm, diameter about 1 mm 

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of double-flowered Impatiens walleriana, plant named ‘TiLipII’, as illustrated and described. 